October 7, 2020
The book of Exodus tells the story of the birth of the nation of Israel fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. From the seventy descendants of Jacob, Israel was fruitful and multiplied greatly until they filled the whole land of Egypt. After four centuries of slavery, God answers the cries of His people for deliverance. God raises up Moses for this calling, to lead his people out of bondage to a land of promise and deliverance.
Some of the greatest stories of the Bible are featured in Exodus—from the Ten Plagues, and the Passover, to the crossing of the Red Sea, and the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai. The Passover lamb, the exodus from the land of Egypt, the seven feasts, the tabernacle, and even the high priest, are all foreshadows of the ministry of Christ.
Chapters 1-18 contains the events leading up to God’s delivering the Hebrews from their captivity in Egypt, and chapters 19-40 shares the events in the wilderness and the account of God’s instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai to direct the life and worship of the nation.
Exodus 7
Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh
1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.”’” 19 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”
20 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.
25 Seven full days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- Although God commissioned Moses and Aaron to go before Pharaoh and perform signs before the king and his magicians, God was still the one at work. It is not the signs and wonders that will ultimately change the hardest heart. It is the power and authority of God. A life lived fully submitted to Jesus Christ is still one of the most powerful testimonies to God’s power and authority before a hardened and skeptical world.
- Aaron’s staff swallowing up the staffs of Pharaoh’s magicians shows that, whether the magicians were able to perform their works by trickery or evil supernatural powers, God is sovereign over all. How does this encourage you in your walk with Jesus?
- Verse 29 tells us that Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. What does this say to us about obedience even when we do not see the desired results right away?
Prayer: Lord, I praise your holy name and declare with confidence that there is no other god before you and you are sovereign over all things in heaven or on earth. No matter what I face in life, you are greater and in you, I can overcome. You are my protector and provider. I will trust in you! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I believe with all my heart, that all things are possible with You and there is no hope without You. Thank You for loving me and giving me the promise that You will never leave or forsake me. In this, I have great comfort. Lead me this day in the paths I should take . Wherever You lead, I will follow. In Jesus ‘ name. Amen.
Gracias padre eres un Dios soberano Dios de justicia a ti la gloria por los siglos de los siglos padre guíame por tu senda has que yo sea obediente como Moises y Aarón úsame para que yo sea luz y sal en la tierra para que todos puedan ver tú poder gracias mi Dios amado bendice el día de hoy bendice toda mi familia dejo todo en tus manos en nombre y por amor a tu hijo amado amén y amén ?
Father,
From heaven you heard the moans and groans of your people. By your will and by your might, you sent Moses as a deliverer. The leader of that day refused to listen. May we, Father, listen.
As we read and mediate on your word, open our understanding. Show us, Father, the way.
Father, you are sovereign. May your church, everywhere, be still and know you are LORD. You alone are righteous. Cleanse us this day as we bow before you. Remove our stiff necks, soften our hearts, open our eyes to see you.
It is your desire that none be lost. May the lost be lifted to your throne room in continuous prayer this day. Hear, answer and save another wanderer this day.
Thank you, Father, for another day to serve you and your son, Jesus Christ. For it is in his name this prayer is lifted to your throne room,
Amen
This chapter reminds us that people, like Pharaoh, have hardened their hearts after all the miracles that Jesus performed and they have rejected Him. What is more, they have hardened their hearts against His suffering, death, burial, resurrection and ascension to heaven. They have done so with the promise of a hell that eternally burns with fire and the worms do not die.
Praise you dear Lord for your saving grace that is evident in your leading of Moses and your people from Egypt. Praise you for your provision and preparation of Moses and Aaron for your work. Praise you for their testimony of your greatness before those who had harden hearts.
Thank you for using us in this fallen world to do you good works. I pray that you bless our country as we select our next leaders. I pray that you bless our church body as the search committee seeks your direction. I pray that you bless our ministers as they seek your will to lead us your children. I pray that you bless our body of believers, especially those who are mourning and coming to you with deep groans of requests. Hear their prayers dear Lord. Heal our land and your people.
You are the God of Abraham and the provider for us through Jesus Christ your Son. Praise you for your provision and healing! May you be glorified!
Man alone cannot soften a heart only harden it. Hard heart and deaf ears go together. We have a choice. Refusing God’s Words harden our hearts. Our obedience glorifies God.
Thank you Lord for softening my heart, transplanting Jesus’ heart of obedience in me and that I can trust you because you are sovereign.
God is in control, ALL THE TIME!!